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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February |
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2011 provides an opportunity to recognize the rich cultural |
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heritage of African Americans and the significant contributions |
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they have made and are making to the Lone Star State and the world at |
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large; and |
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WHEREAS, A weeklong observance focusing on black history was |
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established in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an author and scholar |
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and the son of former slaves, who sought a means of educating |
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non-black Americans about African American culture and of |
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engendering pride among black Americans; the tribute was expanded |
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to a month in 1976 and was officially recognized by President Gerald |
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Ford, who encouraged all Americans to celebrate "Black History |
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Month and the message of courage and perseverance it brings to all |
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of us"; and |
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WHEREAS, African Americans have constituted a significant |
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part of the population of Texas for hundreds of years; in the 19th |
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century, before emancipation, they played an enormous role in |
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producing this state's agricultural bounty and also worked as |
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skilled artisans; after the Civil War, many moved to urban centers, |
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and in the years that followed, they provided manpower for new |
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industries that were being established; and |
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WHEREAS, African American infantry and cavalry garrisoned |
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forts in West Texas during the Indian Wars; known as "Buffalo |
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Soldiers," they patrolled the frontier with the assistance of black |
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Seminole Indian scouts, built roads, and escorted mail carriers; |
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Sergeant Emmanuel Stance, stationed at Fort McKavett, was the first |
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African American who fought in the Indian Wars to be awarded the |
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Medal of Honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, African Americans have been |
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involved in the cattle industry; one of the most famous black Texan |
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cowboys was William Pickett, who became a Wild West rodeo performer |
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and who is believed to have originated the bulldogging event; and |
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WHEREAS, In the mid-20th century, African Americans in Texas |
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substantially furthered the civil rights movement by filing and |
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winning lawsuits that outlawed the white primary and that helped to |
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integrate graduate and professional schools; today, influential |
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African American leaders continue to follow in the footsteps of |
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their predecessors, taking their rightful place in the public arena |
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and promoting social justice; and |
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WHEREAS, The contributions of African Americans in the nation |
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at large not only have impacted every facet of life in this country |
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but have had an influence around the globe; among their most notable |
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but perhaps least-known achievements have been advances in science |
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and technology; the long list of those who have distinguished |
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themselves in these fields includes Alexander Miles, who developed |
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the automated elevator door, Garrett Morgan, who invented the gas |
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mask and the traffic signal, Frederick Jones, who developed |
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refrigerated trucks and railroad cars, Dr. Charles Drew, who |
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developed a technique for preserving plasma and who established |
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blood banks across Europe and the Pacific during World War II, |
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saving the lives of countless American soldiers and sailors, Dr. |
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Patricia E. Bath, who developed a method of eye surgery that has |
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helped many blind people to see, and Dr. Philip Emeagwali, who in |
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1989 invented the world's fastest computer; and |
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WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month highlights |
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the myriad ways in which African Americans have helped to shape this |
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state and nation over the course of four centuries and acknowledges |
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the immeasurable benefits of living in a truly diverse society; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 2011 as Black History Month |
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and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and |
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accomplishments of African Americans. |